The dragons emerge from the sea, and the spectacle is so beautiful that the children forget about the Fangs. The cliff is extremely high, but Tink is temporarily unafraid. Entranced by the dragons, Leeli appears to go into a religious trance. She sings a beautiful song that she has never been taught, and the dragons stop to listen to her. When her song finishes, the dragons return to the sea. As they turn to leave, the children run into Slarb, one of the Fangs from the alley.

Slarb and four other Fangs capture the three children, but Nugget escapes. The Fangs bring the children to the town jail, which is run by a Fang called Commander Gnorm. The siblings sit in a cell and await their fate; they will either be tortured at the jail or sent away in the Black Carriage to their deaths. They hope for the former, and Slarb seems keen to whip them, but Gnorm orders him to send for the carriage instead.

The children are horrified, but there is nothing they can do. Janner tries to keep his siblings from falling into despair. Hours pass, and Tink and Leeli fall asleep as Janner tries to think of a way out.